All the Latest Music News on Nagamag

Los Angeles' Highschool Jacob is ready to share his highly awaited single "Open Sickness," the fourth release from his "HSJ 2020" collection. The series of singles each come with a corresponding video game (yes video game!) and have garnered praise from tastemakers worldwide.

The alternative-pop project based out of Los Angeles was started with the intention to combine elements from modern pop and R&B. Inspired by art pop, indie rock, and nu-disco, Highschool Jacob (HSJ) continuously delivers music that is both deeply personal and sonically riveting. Having mastered retro-inspired jams, HSJ shares feel-good music influenced by our favorite parts of the '70s and '80s.

"breezy, funky, alt-pop single du jour" - EARMILK

"HighSchool Jacob's retro synth soundscape is a breath of fresh air amongst the sea of hip hop and grunge" - Atwood Magazine

"full of soulful synths that pair well with its downtempo beat." - mxdwn

"Nostalgic in name and in sound this song hits all the notes." - Beat Lab Academy

"It's not hard to understand the magnetism to this curious alt-pop act." - The Music Ninja

HSJ takes it back to his roots with the gorgeous indie-pop tune "Open Sickness." A memorable guitar melody opens the track and leads you into soaring harmonies and echoing verses swirling in a dreamy, synth-laden soundscape. This elevated-ballad is an ode to moving on and accepting responsibility; Highschool Jacob embraces the hard conversations we need to have with ourselves in the wake of emotional grief.

He explains, "This song was written after a difficult conversation with an ex on a cold winter day in New York City when I was crushed with the realization that she had undoubtedly moved on. I began writing the song focused on how sorry I felt for myself, but then I realized I was the reason for the circumstances in the first place. How dare I approach someone I had been apart from for so long and expect them to feel the same way I did? How dare I meet their emotional maturity with tears? Often these sort of songs (especially from the male perspective) look to demonize and shift blame to the other person, and I wanted to draw attention to how that is often not the case. I wanted to write the angry breakup song where my ex was some crazy mean girl and make myself the victim, but in the end it was my fault. I couldn't make her the bad guy no matter how hard I tried."

Tastemakers like Atwood Magazine, Earmilk, and mxdwn have supported the project from the start and HSJ has climbed HypeMachine charts hitting the #1 Spot on the Popular Charts. Additionally, he has been featured on coveted Spotify playlists like Fresh Finds and more.

With every single release, Highschool Jacob and creative collaborator Jack Herzog created a flash game available on the Highschool Jacob website to coincide with the single release, giving listeners a chance to further dive into the world and ideas wrapped into each song. Inspired by vintage video game advertising, they carried that theme over to the artwork for each track release as well. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting quarantine, HSJ realized that everyone could use some fun until life gets back to normal.

Follow Highschool Jacob
https://www.facebook.com/hsjacob/
https://www.instagram.com/highschooljacob/

The Los Angeles based artist’s latest single, “Young Queen” is a personal record written as a love letter to her home country, Kosovo, and to her Albanian roots. Paying tribute to her mother and all moms who raise their daughters to see themselves as ‘young queens,’ the song oozes with passion and determination. It’s a powerful pop anthem and meaningful record, showcasing everything that the songwriter represents – strength, vulnerability and quality. Sonically “Young Queen” bursts with soulful vocal tones, highlighting Mimoza’s impressive range, while dynamic percussion elements and big, bold instrumentation create the ultimate emotional release.

https://www.instagram.com/missmimoza/
https://twitter.com/itsmimoza

Cadence Weapon, the moniker of Toronto-based rapper, producer, writer and poet Rollie Pemberton, is back a blistering new LP Parallel World, out April 30th via eOne Music.

“SENNA” is the first single, about self-determination and taking the road less travelled, and is a reunion collaboration with Jacques Greene (LuckyMe/Night Slugs/Vase Records) following their work together on the self-titled Cadence Weapon (2018). It’s inspired by legendary Brazillian F1 driver Ayrton Senna.

Using elements of trap, drill, grime and acid house, Parallel World is the soundtrack for the dystopian future we’ve somehow found ourselves in, with everyone dealing with their own realities relating to these issues.

https://cadenceweapon.substack.com/
https://www.facebook.com/cadenceweapon
https://www.instagram.com/cadenceweapon/
https://twitter.com/cadenceweapon
https://cadenceweapon.bandcamp.com/
https://www.twitch.tv/cadenceweapon

Popular song written by 2 legends of Greek music, lyricist Lina Nikolakopoulou and composer Evanthia Reboutsika. Performed by Greece’s leading international artist of his generation, George Perris, this song is a duet with another iconic Greek performer, George Dalaras.

The song is the theme song from the commercially successful tv series “Aggeliki”, airing on Alpha Tv in Greece

https://www.georgeperris.com/
https://www.facebook.com/georgeperrisofficial/

“I wrote ‘Sundress’ about being in the moment with someone you love,” shares Kennedy on the new song. “It’s so easy to get caught up in the past and future, but nothing is more important than putting everything aside and arriving in the present with that special someone. For me, the bright and dreamy vibe of ‘Sundress’ all stems from a specific moment, with a specific person, watching the sunset on a summer day in California. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

He continues, “In a year where the days seem to blend together and time seems to pass faster than ever before, it’s important to appreciate every moment, especially the limited time we spend with our loved ones. ‘Sundress’ is about those special moments that stand out in a sea of memories. Moments so unforgettable, that they almost feel like a recurring dream.”

https://www.instagram.com/devkennedymusic

"Sundress" is the 2nd of 6 singles Devin Kennedy is releasing in the first half of 2021. “Sundress” follows the previously released single “Mean To Me” featuring buzzing songstress Caroline Kole. The track, co-produced with Whakaio Taahi (Jake Miller, Hot Chella Rae, Katelyn Tarver, Sheppard), is a bold anthem about being your own worst enemy. Fans can stream “Mean To Me” at https://smarturl.it/mean2me.

Kennedy has released his new single “Sundress” today. In a world that doesn’t stop turning, the song focuses on slowing down with your favorite person. “Sundress” and its accompanying music video, directed by, Evan Hara.

Past singles from Kennedy have been praised by American Songwriter, Lyrical Lemonade. Factor in nearly 4.2M global streams independently, placements on Apple Music’s “New Music Daily”, "Hitting Reset", "Pop Delights", “In My Room”, “Today At Apple” "Best New Music" and ”Date Night” playlists and Spotify’s "Fresh Finds", “Fresh Finds: The Wave” “Fresh Finds: Pop”, and text me back.

https://www.devkennedymusic.com/

https://www.carolinekole.com/

This song reflects the current state of the times and is great timing for Black History month. So far the song has got a well response from digital radio, fans and test markets we played the song in. Great response from fans and music lovers.

https://www.instagram.com/dwillzmusic/

Darrin Willz is a rap and hip-hop artist with a twist of soul from Oakland, California.

In early 2021, the rapper released his single ‘A Kid From Oakland’ featuring Oakland’s legendary Freestyle King, Mistah F.A.B. Both rappers reflect on life growing up in Oakland, how they fought through adversity and have experienced success. His debut album, ‘The Beautiful Storm’, is set for release in March 2021.

Darrin began making music at 9 years old, inspired by the thought of bringing his “Oakland” worldview to the rest of the globe through song. After multiple late nights rapping and blasting music in his teens, Darrin’s father took him to his uncle’s studio for his first recording session. The rest is history.

Inspired by his real-life experiences, independent rapper says: “I want to make music for everyone in the struggle. If you’re working everyday, sun up to sun down, my music is for you. If you’re feeling hopeless, lost and not sure where this life will take you, my music is for you. And if you just want to feel good, my music is for you.”

Follow Darrin Willz for updates and new music.

Twitter: @dwillzmusic
Instagram: @dwillzmusic
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/darrinwillz

Liverpool-based producer and neo-classical songwriter ​Tom Ashbrook ​returns this February with some of his most affecting, emotively charged and powerful work to date. The first track off a brand new EP, ​Solitude III c​ounters the darker haunting sounds of his previous EP, showcasing a lighter side to his breathtaking ambient compositions.

Classically trained on piano from the age of 5, ​Tom Ashbrook ​grew up with an obsession with the emotion and songwriting mystique in film soundtracks. He took these techniques into his own songwriting and later, developed a love for synthesis and contemporary music production, the combination of which, has now formed the basis of his stunning and eclectic catalogue.

Tom’s w​ork has built him a following worldwide as well as critical acclaim. His music has found appreciation through Spotify and Apple Music’s playlist system, where he’s clocked over ​7 Million Streams ​since launching with his debut EP in 2019. His tracks have landed on some of the genre’s biggest playlists including ​Atmospheric Piano, Not Quite Classical, Piano Chill ​and Pure Focus. ​A lover of all aspects of production and collaboration, he’s also worked alongside rising South-African songwriter ​Julia Church o​ n their incredible alt-electronic single ‘Souvenir’.

The new single shows ​Ashbrook a​t his best, drawing complex emotion from subtle piano melodies. Speaking on the new single, he states:

“Solitude III is about change. When things change suddenly, and with no notice , like a tragedy, the weather, the end of a relationship. In those times, we have to find an inner peace that restores us when the wind blows us off course.”

https://www.instagram.com/tomashbrookmusic/

Tom Ashbrook is a British composer, producer and artist. Classically trained on piano from the age of 5, Tom has spent most of his adulthood gigging and touring around the world as a musician. An early interest in film soundtracks and composing to visuals has meant Tom has always had a gift in drawing out emotions through melodies. After developing a love for synthesisers and experimentations with recording, he has shaped his own signature sound.

https://www.facebook.com/tomashbrookmusic/

Indie-pop duo Fly By Midnight have racked in over 30 million streams across platforms with hit singles such as ‘Lovely’ and “Love Me Like A Friend”. Their music has been featured on numerous Spotify playlists (Chill Hits, NMF US & more) and Apple Music playlists (A-List Pop, Breaking Pop & more). The duo has also built strong momentum as writers/producer recently signing with Rx Songs following single releases for Julie Bergan (Warner), Shawn Hook (Ultra), and syncs for Netflix’s Home For Christmas & Queer Eye Season 5.

“Diamond Eyes” is the final single off of the all collaborative EP “Plus One”. The track dives into a deep infatuation surrounded by dark disco elements and a rhythmic drive.

About the EP:

The all collaborative EP “Plus One” is a project revolving around Fly By Midnight’s ability to seamlessly create with artists from all over the globe. With features from Clara Mae (Sweden), Shoffy (SoCal), Jake Miller (Florida) & Cailin Russo (LA), the packaged release is a dynamic indie pop ride that showcases connectivity in a year more disconnected than any.

https://www.instagram.com/flybymidnight/